Tony Hawk's Underground

One of the most immediately noticeable differences between T.H.U.G. and its predecessors is the structure of the career mode. Instead of stepping into the shoes of Tony Hawk, Bob Burnquist, Bam Margera, or one of the dozen or so different pro skaters from the Tony Hawk games, you'll play as an anonymous skater from New Jersey with aspirations of going pro.
more from Game Spot

Tony Hawk's Underground has become the people's game, a skateboarding adventure/RPG, if you will, one that surpasses its predecessors as a pure evolution of all things Tony Hawk. And one that's sure to be the best singular videogame skatebaording experience ever.
more from IGN

In THUG, you don't play as the pros -- although you can, if you skip the story mode. You play as yourself, and you start your very own skating career in, well, a thuggy part of scenic New Jersey. Through a serious of wacky events, you try and propel yourself to the big time.
more from Game Spy